Combined apparatus for exercising and massaging by friction.



No. 781,683. PATENTED FEB. '7, 1905. G. H. SHEPHERD.

COMBINED APPARATUS FOR BXERCISING AND MASSAGING BY FRICTION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented February 7, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

COMBINED APPARATUS FOR EXERClSlNG AND MASSAGING BY FRICTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,683, dated February'7, 1905.

Application filed September 30,1904. Serial No. 226,660.

To 11/] whom it III/([1] concern:

Be it known that I, (1 mouse H ENRY SHEP- lump, .1 subject of the Kingof Great Britain, residing at No. 1 Rue Caumartin, Paris, in thedepartment of Seine. France, have invented a new and useful CombinedApparatus for Exercising and Massaging by Friction, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an exercising apparatus designed for massagingby friction a determined part of the body of the gymnast using theapparatus.

The apparatus consists in principle of a nonextensible cableterminating-in two handles and carrying in the middle a massagingmember. The cable, which is free to move over pulleys, is worked by thegymnast in such a way that the alternative movements of the arms drawthe cable alternately in one direction and the other over the pulleys.The pulley-blocks are connected to the free ends of extensible cables,forming elastic springs fixed at the other end to a wall or door. Themassaging device works over the point of application on the body of thegymnast. and as it is drawn alternately from side to side by eachmovement of the cable it works with a rolling friction over the gymnastsbody.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an apparatus accordingto this invention attached on a door. Fig. 2 represents the manner ofworking the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail View of themassaging device. Figs. 1 and-5 are detail views taken at right anglesto one another, showing the extensible tensioning or spring devicesconnected to the pulleys. Fig. 6 shows the manner in which the upperpulleys are connected and mounted.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a massagingdeviceconsistingofballs Larrangcd two by two on axes 2, which may be formed of iron wirefixed by gripping over between twolongitudinal cords3 3. The cords3 3are united at their extremities and provided with hooks 1 5 to receive,respectively, the working cables 6 7, which latter are terminated attheir other ends by handles 8 9. The cables 6 7 are formed of aninextensible material tor example, of hemp, silk, or the like.

The cable 6 is passed successively first over the pulley 10 ot' atensioning-cord 11, made from extensible material, (india-rubbcr, aspring, or the like,) carried by a screw-ring 19, lixcd to the righthandupright of a door, for example, and then over a pulley l3, arrangedabove the gymnast at the top of the door, for example. The cable 7 isarranged synmictrically with regard to cable 6. 1t passes lirst over thepulley 10 of a tensioningcord 11, made from an extensiblematerialcarried by a screw-ring 12, lixed 0n the le't't upright of the door,andthen said able '7 is passed over a pulley 13, placed next to the pulley13. The pulleys 13 13 are carried byhooks 11 11, lixed on a single plate15, provided with an eye 16 for suspension on hooks 17 17 of twotensioning-cords 18 18, made of extensible material similar to thetensioning-cords 11 11. The cords 18 18 are hooked at their otherextremities to two screw-rings .19 19, tixed at one side and the otherat the top of the door.

In order to use the apparatus, the gymnast applies the massaging device1 to the part of his body which he desires to massage, (the chest,waist, &c.,) asin Fig. .2. Then he seizes the two handles 8 and 9, onein each hand, and draws the cables alternately backward and forward orupward and downward. The incxtensible cables 67 work, respectively, overthe pulleys 1O 13 and 10 13, and the balls 1 of the massaging devicework with a rolling friction over the gymnasts body.

By the formation of the tensioning-cords 11 11 18 18 from extensiblematerial it is made possible for the energy of the massaging and thefriction to be easily controlled according to the will of the gymnastduring the exercising. It is sutlicient for him to apply his body moreor less strongly against the massaging device 1.

The balls 1 of the massaging device may be formed of wood, ivory, &c.They may have the shape of an olive or a cylinder, or, in fact, anyother desired form.

\Vhat I claim is 1. An apparatus for simultaneous exercising andmassaging by friction comprising a massaging device, two cablesconnected to opposite ends of said massaging device, a handle attachedto each of said cables, guiding said cables, and springy supportingmeans means for the cables, and extensible spring-y for said pulleys.supports for the guiding means. In testimony WhereofIhave signed my name2. An apparatus for simultaneous exercisto this specification in thepresence of two sub- 5 ing and massaging by friction comprising ascribing" Witnesses.

flexible frame and a plurality of massaglngballs revolubly supportedtherein, two cables GEORGE HENRY SHEPHERD each attached to one of theends of the fleXilVitnesses:

ble frame, achandle on the outer end of each PAUL CAQUET,

IO cable, a plurality of pulleys adapted to guide A. R. BAKER.

